Search Results for: blog should you bank babys cord blood

How Much Do You Pay Your Babysitter?

“Bankrupt by Babysitter!” It’s a mock headline, but one that is apropos after speaking to my friend in Atlanta, who claims her bank account, has been sapped by her babysitter. The babysitter she pays $15 an hour to watch her three kids (who are 2, 4, and 6). Fifteen bucks an hour! That’s more than I made working my first post-college job… and my second… and third—COMBINED! Okay, maybe I’m exaggerating a little (and by little I mean like 50 cents–COMBINED), but I think my exasperation is warranted. Fifteen dollars an hour for watching three well-behaved children watch TV for … Continue reading →

Cord Blood Banking

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When you are pregnant, it is likely that your doctor’s office will give you an information packet about cord blood banking. After your baby is born, the blood from the umbilical cord can be stored for up to ten years in cryogenically sealed containers. Cord blood is rich in high quality stem cells, which can be used to treat many different diseases. These diseases include certain types of cancers, myelodysplastic syndromes, myeloproliferative disorders, marrow failure syndromes, blood disorders, inherited platelet abnormalities, histiocytic disorders, inherited metabolic disorders, immune deficiencies, and other diseases like osteoporosis. Cord blood can either be donated or … Continue reading →

When Should the Umbilical Cord Be Cut?

One procedure more parents are considering as part of the birth plan is when to cut the umbilical cord. Should the cord be cut just after the birth? Should you wait until it stops pulsating to cut it? There are two completely different opinions on when to cut the umbilical cord. Some doctors believe the cord should be cut immediately after birth and not later than 30 seconds after the baby is born. This is largely due to a belief that delayed cord cutting can cause breathing difficulties in the new baby. Other doctors and most midwives are advocates of … Continue reading →

Retired Greyhounds Serve as Blood Donors

More than fifty retired racing greyhounds have embarked on a new career at the Ohio State University veterinary school. The dogs donate blood four or five times per year. Why are greyhounds good blood donors? Many greyhounds have a universal blood type, making their blood suitable for any dog who needs a transfusion. Greyhounds have large veins in their necks that make it easy to draw blood. Greyhounds have very short hair that makes it easy to find neck veins and draw blood. These particular greyhounds are owned by professors, technicians, and students at the Ohio State University veterinary school. … Continue reading →

Need a Little “Fun Money”? Donate Plasma

Perhaps I should start by clarifying. I am not talking about your plasma television. I am talking about your blood. Okay, technically the yellow liquid part of your blood that suspends blood cells. I used to sell my plasma back in college. At the time, I sold my plasma for purely selfish reasons – pizza, beer and text books. If you live in a town near a college, the chances are probably pretty good that you have a plasma donation center near you. The process is actually quite simple (if you are not squeamish about needles, that is). You start … Continue reading →

A New Source For Stem Cells

The debate over stem cells may be nearing an end. Scientists reported earlier in January that they found a new source for human stem cells — stem cells that are easier to collect AND come without the ethical issues we’ve seen concerning embryonic stem cells. So where do these new stem cells come from? They are found in amniotic fluid — the liquid that surrounds a baby in the womb. Stem cells found in amniotic fluid can be collected at the same time amniocentesis is done, with very little risk to mother or child. And the cells can theoretically be … Continue reading →

Caring for the Umbilical Stump

After your baby is born and while you are still in the delivery room, the doctor will cut the umbilical cord. Once the cord has been removed, the baby will still have a cord stump that needs to be cared for. Now, bear in mind that the cord stump will gradually turn black in just a few days following the birth and it will fall off sometime between the first and fourth weeks of life. You need to pay particular care of this area of the body to hasten the healing process. You can do this by keep the area … Continue reading →

A New Reason to Bank Your Baby’s Cord Blood

Banking baby’s cord blood is a relatively new procedure (new as in the last 30 years or so) where blood from the umbilical cord is collected at the hospital and stored at a storage facility for future use. Cord blood contains the same life saving stem cells as bone marrow. However it has a distinct advantage in that umbilical cells are considered more adaptable and are less likely to be rejected by the recipient. Many parents consider banking the umbilical cord blood in the event that their child or another close relative may have a life threatening illness. However, the … Continue reading →